May 16 - June 9, 2013 Start the Festival in style with the SIFF 2013 Opening Night Gala! The evening features the Seattle premiere of Much Ado About Nothing, with director Joss Whedon and cast members Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Nathan Fillion, and Clark Gregg scheduled to attend.

SOMM

Director Jason Wise scheduled to attend | June 2 & June 4

SOMM is the riveting story of four sommeliers attempting to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world. Fewer than 200 people in the world have ever earned the title Master Sommelier.

The June 2 and June 4 screenings are on STANDBY. There are no advance tickets available.

The Master Sommelier exam is a test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world: fewer than 200 people have taken it successfully since 1966. SOMM follows four Master Sommelier hopefuls as they prepare for two years in order to spend 25 minutes on a blind tasting, along with an oral theory exam and a practical service exam. While the film is cognizant of the depth of knowledge represented by the exam and the Court of Master Sommeliers that administers it, a healthy amount of irreverent humor provides a welcome reprieve from some of the obsession and intensity involved in the process-humor that often comes from the mouths of the prospective test-takers themselves. There is also, of course, plenty of focus on wine itself, with interviews from industry professionals and loving images of wine (and some breaking of wineglasses). SOMM was the opening night film at the 2012 Napa Valley Film Festival.

Director BiographySOMM is the first feature-length film for American director Jason Wise, who began formulating the project while watching a friend prepare for the Master Sommelier exam. His previous work includes short films and television.

SIFF's mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that we foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive!